IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Hannah Stuelke had 22 points, Ava Heiden scored 20 and No. 11 Iowa beat No. 15 Michigan State 75-68 on Sunday night, snapping the Spartans' nine-game winning streak while extending the Hawkeyes' to six in a row.
Stuelke made 10 of 14 shots and 2 of 4 free throws for the Hawkeyes (16-2, 7-0 Big Ten Conference). She added nine rebounds, five assists, three steals and a block. Heiden hit 8 of 13 shots and 4 of 5 free throws, adding six rebounds, two steals and two blocks. Chazadi Wright had 11 points and five assists.
Grace VanSlooten had 17 points and seven rebounds to pace the Spartans (17-2, 6-2). Jalyn Brown scored 16 and Juliann Woodard added 14 points off the bench.
Stuelke made a layup and two free throws in the final 51 seconds and Chazadi Wright hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer as Iowa took a 22-16 lead in a first quarter that saw nine lead changes and two ties.
Addison Deal came off the bench to hit two 3-pointers, scoring all eight of her points in the second quarter to help the Hawkeyes take a 41-29 lead at halftime.
Another Wright 3-pointer gave Iowa its largest lead — 53-36 with 5:53 left in the third quarter. Michigan State chipped away and used Jalyn Brown's layup in the final minute to cut it to 65-56 heading to the fourth.
Brown hit a jumper to get the Spartans within 71-66 with 3:28 left but they would get no closer.
Iowa shot 53.6% overall while holding Michigan State to 44.6%.
Up next
Michigan State: Hosts Southern California on Thursday.
CHICAGO, IL – JANUARY 18: Matas Buzelis #14 of Chicago Bulls drives to the basket during the game against the Brooklyn Nets on January 18, 2026 at United Center in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images)
It’s rare to have a regular season game where just about everyone’s attention in the arena is elsewhere. That’s where the fans at United Center found themselves on Sunday evening as the hometown Bears took on the Los Angeles Rams in the last game of the NFL Divisional Round. It was a thriller at Solider Field, but at the United Center, it was an easy, stress-free night of basketball.
The Brooklyn Nets were without Michael Porter Jr and Drake Powell tonight as they sat the first leg of a traveling back-to-back. To begin the game, Brooklyn got off to a good start as they found some early success from three point range.
However, the highlights ended there as the Bulls regained the lead and never looked back.
The Nets defense made a dramatic turnaround in December, and it started with their defense. They held teams to just 32.8% from deep, third lowest in the NBA and just 105.4 points per 100 possessions, tops in the league. The team defense has started to slip in January, as teams shot 37.2% from three against them in January, 21st in the league. Tonight, we saw why.
Chicago’s offense started to figure things out in the fourth quarter of Friday’s game. Although their rally fell short, they went 6-12 from three point range and felt incredibly confident coming into tonight’s game. That confidence shined early and often in the Windy City. In the first half, the Bulls went 12-20 from three point range. The Nets’ switching defense wasn’t as in sync as they normally are and there were numerous breakdowns in their coverage. Coby White was the beneficiary of those lapses as his five first half threes
It was over early and the lead grew to as big as 27 points in the second half. The Nets tried switching things up by going with a starting five of Nolan Traore-Cam Thomas-Tyrese Martin-Jalen Wilson-Nic Claxton combination. As far as I could tell doing a quick scan of the NBA’s lineup data and in Basketball-Reference, it was the first time Jordi Fernandez went to that pairing. It didn’t help as the Bulls built their lead to 26 before the Nets went to the bench. With the game fully in hand, it was a slow crawl to the finish line and everyone could focus on the win the city is desperately hoping for over at Soldier Field.
“[We were] lacking on the defense, especially in the first half,” Fernández said post-game. “[To allow] 70 points in the first half, that’s not good enough. I don’t think it was good either in the second, but I don’t think we played hard consistently. We tried at times [but] our purpose was not there. That’s the battle we need to fight first, is to do everything as hard as you can to the best of your abilities, then put your mind on what you’re trying to do.
“Everything has to be done with purpose. You cannot just run around crazy and that’s it. So, that’s very important. No matter who we have out there … I believe we can go out, compete and win. And [Sunday] we didn’t compete to the best of our ability. So, I’m the first one to blame. Watch film [Monday], try to compete better.”
Final score: Chicago Bulls 124, Brooklyn Nets 102.
Milestone Watch
If you’re looking for a positive, Cam Thomas did tie his career high with ten assists on the night to only one turnover. CT’s playmaking has been a point of conversation throughout his time as a pro and a night like this should help him down the line. He had a season low (excluding the game he left early due to a hamstring injury) three points, but scoring has never been an issue for him.
Nolan Traoré set a career high in points (16) and three pointers made (four) off the bench, and with the team likely to be sitting players in their next game, has an opportunity to carve out even more minutes for himself.
With the loss, the Nets remain in fifth in the Tankathon lottery ratings, one game behind the Utah Jazz and fourth and a half behind the Indiana Pacers who are in first four-and-a-half games ahead (behind?) the Nets.
Next up
MIAMI, FLORIDA – JANUARY 13: Dillon Brooks #3 of the Phoenix Suns celebrates during the second quarter against the Miami Heat at Kaseya Center on January 13, 2026 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tomas Diniz Santos/Getty Images)
Speaking of the next game, it’s a quick turnaround for Brooklyn. The Nets are back in action tomorrow night against a surprising Phoenix Suns team. Tip off on MLK Day at 7:30 p.m. ET.
As Ja Morant was leaving London, he told the media he didn’t want to leave Memphis.
The high-flying floor general dropped 20 points and 10 assists with no turnovers in the first half of the Memphis Grizzlies’ 126-109 win over the Orlando Magic during Sunday’s NBA London Games.
Morant — who finished with 24 points, 13 assists and 3-of-4 made 3-pointers — insisted that he does not want to be traded amid rumors that his departure from the Grizzlies could be pending.
Ja Morant (12) returned in a big way, putting up 24 points and 13 assists in a 126-109 win over the Orlando Magic. NBAE via Getty Images
Morant, who made his return to the lineup after a six-game absence, discussed being back on the court following the performance.
“Just being able to play basketball is very therapeutic for me,” he said. “I know what I’m capable of and I was able to show that tonight and see the love from people I’m meeting for the first time. It was big time. Just walking off and representing Memphis is what it’s all about.”
Ja Morant missed six consecutive games before his return. NBAE via Getty Images
Morant has been the subject of trade rumors in recent weeks, with potential ties to the Bucks, Heat, Pelicans and Toronto Raptors, among others.
In the event Morant is traded, a deal is not expected to yield a ton for the controversial star, who has missed 178 games out of a possible 391 since the start of the 2021-22 season — including playoffs.
Before Sunday’s outburst, Morant had been averaging 19 points and 7.6 assists per game, with career lows in field goal percentage (40.1 percent) and three-point percentage (20.8 percent).
But if his latest effort is any indication, Morant seemingly hopes to string together more of these outings in the same place he’s called home throughout his pro career.
Former big league knuckleballer Wilbur Wood died on Saturday at the age of 84.
Wood led the major leagues in games pitched twice and games started four times during the course of his 17-year MLB career, which included time with the Red Sox, Pirates and a 12-year stint with the White Sox.
Pitcher Wilbur Wood of the Chicago White Sox in 1973. Getty Images
In 1972, Wood set the record for most innings thrown by a pitcher since 1917, when he threw 376 ⅔ innings that season for the White Sox and made 49 starts that year – the most since 1908 – two marks that have not been matched since.
Wood, who was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, had been a star player for Belmont High School growing up.
During his professional career, he was a three-time American League All-Star and recorded four 20-win seasons.
His career spanned from 1961 to 1978, and he finished with a 164-156 record.
Wood made his major league debut at the age of 19 in 1961 with the Red Sox.
“He was a real hot-shot pitcher,” Roland Hemond, the former Sox executive who then was a minor-league director for the Milwaukee Braves, told the Chicago Tribune.
“I first met Wilbur in 1960 when our scout Jeff Jones sent him to Milwaukee for a tryout right after he had graduated from high school. He was a fuzzy-faced, chubby little guy who didn’t throw very hard. I watched him throw batting practice but I couldn’t get very excited about him.
Wilbur Wood pitches for the Chicago White Sox circa 1970. Getty Images
“After his workout, I brought him up to the press room in County Stadium with my wife, and we fed him hot dogs. We did discover he had a good appetite. He was such a likable little guy, it was tough to tell him he didn’t throw hard enough and we weren’t interested.”
Wood had become known for his knuckleball, which he had thrown from time to time early in his career, but he started working on it with Hoyt Wilhelm when Wood arrived in Chicago.
“I was lucky because when I came to the Sox, Hoyt Wilhelm was still with them — probably the greatest knuckleball pitcher of all,” Wood said, per the Tribune. “He told me if I was going to throw the knuckleball, I should junk the rest of my pitches. I wasn’t doing any good with them anyway, so I took his advice. I had nothing to lose.”
Following the end of his baseball career, he went on to work at a pharmaceutical company.
The Nets stayed winless without Michael Porter Jr., and this time they didn’t even show any fight in his absence.
With their star being rested, the Nets got embarrassed 124-102 by the Bulls before 19,753 at United Center.
It was a non-effort so galling that Jordi Fernández yanked four of his five starters to open the second half, sparing only Nic Claxton.
“Our energy was off from the jump and they exploited us defensively,” Claxton admitted. “When our energy isn’t right, no coverage will work.”
And none of them worked Sunday.
The Nets (12-28) fell behind by 27 and got routed.
Brooklyn Nets’ Egor Demin (8) goes up for a shot against Chicago Bulls’ Nikola Vucevic (9) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026, in Chicago. AP
“[We were] lacking on the defense, especially in the first half,” Fernández said. “[To allow] 70 points in the first half, that’s not good enough. I don’t think it was good either in the second, but I don’t think we played hard consistently. We tried at times [but] our purpose was not there. That’s the battle we need to fight first, is to do everything as hard as you can to the best of your abilities, then put your mind on what you’re trying to do.
“Everything has to be done with purpose. You cannot just run around crazy and that’s it. So, that’s very important. No matter who we have out there … I believe we can go out, compete and win. And [Sunday] we didn’t compete to the best of our ability. So, I’m the first one to blame. Watch film [Monday], try to compete better.”
The lack of competitiveness is what was most vexing.
The loss itself was hardly shocking. The Nets are 0-8 without Porter, and have been outscored by 16.1 in those defeats. But Sunday’s result was vexing because of their fight, or lack thereof.
None scored more than rookie Nolan Traore’s career-high 16 points, 10 of those in a garbage-time fourth quarter where Brooklyn trailed by 24 going in. The offense without Porter sputtered. But the other end was far worse.
The Nets defense got carved up, allowing a season-worst 41 assists on 49 Bulls baskets. They conceded 52.1 percent shooting, including 69.6 percent in a first quarter that saw them dig themselves into a 19-point hole.
Danny Wolf of the Brooklyn Nets drives to the basket as Issac Okoro of the Chicago Bulls plays defense during the game on January 18, 2026 at United Center in Chicago, Illinois. NBAE via Getty Images
The Nets capitulated after giving up an 18-3 run. They trailed just 21-17 after Cam Thomas (career-high tying 10 assists) found Day’Ron Sharpe for a layup. But they let the Bulls hit eight of their next nine shots, a Tre Jones layup leaving the Nets down 39-20 with 25.6 seconds left in the first.
Fernández had seen enough, pulling starters Danny Wolf, Terance Mann, Egor Dëmin and Noah Clowney at halftime. He opened the third quarter with Traore, Thomas, Jalen Wilson and Tyrese Martin playing alongside Claxton.
“Yeah, it can be rough, but it’s a part of the game. You’ve got to be able to adjust. That’s what we’re dealing with this year. You’ve got to be ready for whatever lineups and our energy needs to be consistent,” Claxton said.
“I thought that group with Nic had good energy. They played the right way,” Fernández said. “And I didn’t feel that energy from the other group. Still, everybody played, just shuffling around and trying to find a way for our guys to react, but didn’t really happen.”
Cam Thomas of the Brooklyn Nets drives to the basket during the game against the Chicago Bulls on January 18, 2026 at United Center in Chicago, Illinois. NBAE via Getty Images
The deficit still reached 103-76 with 8:29 left on a 3 by Ayo Dosunmu (19 points).
Coby White led the Bulls with a game-high 24.
While Traore had 16 points on 4-for-5 shooting from deep, both career-highs, the Nets offense sputtered without Porter.
Thomas’ 10 assists tied a career-high, set last season against these same Bulls in March, but he had just three points on 1-for-6 shooting. Clowney shot 3-for-11 and finished minus-18.
“They just kept playing harder than us,” Martin said.
“We’ve got to just turn the page quick, have short-term memory. We know we’ve got to come out prepared to play,” Claxton said of Monday’s games against visiting Phoenix. “Our process just wasn’t right. We’ve just got to be better all around.”
The Nets are fifth in the lottery odds, a game ahead of Utah and one behind Sacramento pending the Kings’ tilt versus visiting Portland.
CHICAGO (AP) — Coby White scored 24 points, Ayo Dosunmu had 19 and the Chicago Bulls beat the Brooklyn Nets 124-102 on Sunday night to split a home-and-home set.
The Nets won the opener 112-109 on Friday night in Brooklyn.
Nikola Vucevic added 17 points, 11 rebounds and six assists for Chicago. Matas Buzelis also scored 17 points.
Nolan Traore scored 16 points for Brooklyn. Danny Wolf and Jalen Wilson each had 14. The Nets have lost nine of 11.
Dosunmu had 3-pointers at the beginning and end of a 10-0 run late in the first quarter to help the Bulls take a 39-22 lead into the second. Chicago led 70-51 at the half and the advantage stayed above 20 points for most of the second half.
The Bulls average more than 20,000 fans at the United Center, but there were plenty of empty seats at tip-off, which came 30 minutes after the Los Angeles Rams and Bears kicked off their NFC division round game a few miles away at Soldier Field. The Bears’ first touchdown occurred just before an early timeout and got a loud roar from the crowd when a replay was shown on the video board.
Up next
Nets: Host Phoenix on Monday night.
Bulls: Host the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday night.
Actor Vanessa Williams was tasked with singing "The Star-Spangled Banner" before the game at London's O2 Arena.
During Williams' rendition of the song, a member of the crowd was heard interrupting and drawing a reaction from the crowd. "Leave Greenland alone," the audience member yelled before the comment was met with cheers from the crowd.
Loud booing for the US national anthem at the O2 this evening.
The heckling that took place on Sunday is just the latest incident in which a sporting event has served as a platform for a member of the audience to share its displeasure for the U.S. president and his foreign policies. Canadians booed during the national anthem in 2025 after verbally threatening to raise tariffs on goods.
The NBA previously had held a game in London annually from 2011 until 2019 (other than during the 2012 season). The league returned for Sunday's game after holding a game between the Magic and Grizzlies in Berlin on Thursday.
The Arizona Diamondbacks entered the International Signing period with $8,034,900 in international bonus pool money, tied for the most in the league with Baltimore, Cleveland, Colorado, Kansas City, Pittsburgh and St. Louis. Market size, revenue, free agents turning down the qualifying offer, and trades all impact the size of a team’s bonus pool. There’s not a ton of information available on some of these prospects, but I’ve done my best to provide a summarized version of what I could find.
Headlining the Diamondbacks 2026 international signees is SS Ruben Gallego, who ranked #17 by Baseball America, #31 by Fangraphs, and #42 according to MLB Pipeline. Gallego signed for $1.75M as reported by Baseball America, although MLB Pipeline has him at $1.8m. Gallego is of no relation to Arizona Senator Ruben Gallego
The @Dbacks have signed 17-year-old Cuban shortstop Ruben Gallego, No. 42 on the Top 50 International Prospects list, for a reported $1.8 million.
As a player in the top 50, MLB Pipeline conveniently has a scouting report that isn’t stuck behind a paywall, which I’ve quoted below, but you can also view here.
“Gallego has been known to hammer the ball at a high frequency, particularly from the left side of the dish. A switch-hitter, he understandably gets fewer reps against southpaws, but his lefty swing shows much more feel for loft and the ability to drive the ball for extra-base power. He’ll need to add weight and muscle as he faces advanced pitching in the pros but his bat-to-ball skills rate as above average, while he can also generate a good bit of thump from a well-timed leg kick.
A gifted defender, Gallego has the smooth actions to stay at the premium position for the foreseeable future. His arm slots can vary, hampering its overall strength, but he has the quick first step and lateral movement that often portends to success. His long legs allow him to cover ground quickly on the basepaths, seamlessly taking extra bases. If he can improve his physicality, Gallego has the look of a big league infielder.”
The D’Backs signed a second switch hitting Cuban shortstop, Leonardo Sevilla for ($750,000 per Baseball America) Although Sevilla is older (18) and took less money than Gallego, that’s not a reflection of him as a prospect, but instead largely a result of coming over later in the process, after many teams have already committed nearly all of their bonus pool money. Sevilla is actually a fairly advanced hitter, especially tor his age. He has a compact swing and great bat to ball skills from both sides of the plate, on the athleticism and the tools to stick at shortstop. Based on the scouting reports I’ve read, Sevilla is a great sleeper pick for a breakout Dbacks prospect in 2026.
Dominican shortstop Brayan Figueroa isn’t nearly as polished, but he has two stand out tools in raw power (especially for his age) and a cannon for an arm. A righthanded hitter, Figueroa will need to make adjustments to make more frequent contact if he’s going to succeed as a hitter, right now his approach trades contact for power. He has a plus arm and will likely slide over to third base in the near future.
Landing right outside the Top 50 list is Yohendi Hernandez ($547,500), a lefthanded center fielder from the Dominican Republic. Hernandez has a hit over power profile offensively, but considering he’s only a 16 year old, there’s a lot of physical projection left.
Venezuelan catcher Jhosep Villarroel could end up being one of the better value signings of the class for the D-backs. He has the tools and the baseball IQ to stick at catcher, but he is somewhat undersized for a catcher at just 5ft’9in. He’s got a short simple swing and already shown great contact ability, while hitting the ball with surprising authority.
Cuban outfielder Loidel Amaya ($560,000) is a 6-foot-1 righthanded hitter with a quick stroke, a simple lower half move to the ball and fast bat speed to drive the ball with impact. An average runner, Amaya likely projects to end up as a corner outfielder long term.
Outfielder Joscar Hernandez from Venezuela is a plus runner who defends his position well in center field, but has a lot of development left as a hitter.
CHICAGO (AP) — Coby White scored 24 points, Ayo Dosunmu had 19 and the Chicago Bulls beat the Brooklyn Nets 124-102 on Sunday night to split a home-and-home set.
The Nets won the opener 112-109 on Friday night in Brooklyn.
Nikola Vucevic added 17 points, 11 rebounds and six assists for Chicago. Matas Buzelis also scored 17 points.
Nolan Traore scored 16 points for Brooklyn. Danny Wolf and Jalen Wilson each had 14. The Nets have lost nine of 11.
Dosunmu had 3-pointers at the beginning and end of a 10-0 run late in the first quarter to help the Bulls take a 39-22 lead into the second. Chicago led 70-51 at the half and the advantage stayed above 20 points for most of the second half.
The Bulls average more than 20,000 fans at the United Center, but there were plenty of empty seats at tip-off, which came 30 minutes after the Los Angeles Rams and Bears kicked off their NFC division round game a few miles away at Soldier Field. The Bears’ first touchdown occurred just before an early timeout and got a loud roar from the crowd when a replay was shown on the video board.
Up next
Nets: Host Phoenix on Monday night.
Bulls: Host the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday night.
The Calgary Flames have completed a notable blue-line move, sending defenceman Rasmus Andersson to the Vegas Golden Knights as part of a multi-piece trade.
Coming back to Calgary are NHL defenceman Zach Whitecloud, University of North Dakota blueliner Abram Wiebe, a first-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft, and a conditional second-round selection in 2028. To finalize the deal, the Flames will retain 50 percent of Andersson’s salary cap hit.
Andersson leaves the organization ranked 15th in franchise history in games played with 584, seventh among defencemen, and sixth among blueliners in scoring with 261 career points. This season, Andersson notched 10 goals and 30 points in 48 games.
Whitecloud arrives with a reputation as a reliable, detail-oriented defenceman who plays a heavy, physical game. Through 47 games this season, the 29-year-old has recorded seven points (two goals, five assists) while ranking near the top of the Golden Knights’ roster in several defensive categories, including hits (73), blocked shots (63), and short-handed ice time per game (1:44).
Originally signed by Vegas as an undrafted free agent in 2018, Whitecloud was a part of the Golden Knights’ Stanley Cup championship run in 2023. He is currently in the fourth season of a six-year contract with a $2.75 million average annual value.
Wiebe, 22, adds a developmental piece to the Flames’ pipeline. Selected by Vegas in the seventh round (209th overall) of the 2022 NHL Draft, the University of North Dakota defenceman has put together a strong junior season, registering 14 points in 24 games
Former Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Nick Leddy has been placed on waivers by the San Jose Sharks.
Leddy is currently in his first season with the Sharks after the Pacific Division club claimed him off waivers from the St. Louis Blues this past off-season. Now, with this latest news, Leddy is once again available for the taking after being placed on waivers.
Leddy being placed on waivers by the Sharks comes with San Jose blueliner Vincent Desharnais set to return to their lineup.
Leddy has recorded zero goals, four assists, six penalty minutes, and a minus-9 rating in 19 games this season with the Sharks.
Leddy played his first four NHL seasons with the Blackhawks from 2010-11 to 2013-14. In 258 games as a member of the Blackhawks over that span, he recorded 20 goals, 73 assists, 93 points, and a plus-10 rating. This included him recording 34 assists and 37 points in 82 games with Chicago in 2011-12.
Leddy's time with the Blackhawks came to an end ahead of the 2014-15 season when he was traded to the New York Islanders.
Quinn Hughes (left); Owen Power (right) -- (Timothy T. Ludwig, USA TODAY Images)
The Buffalo Sabres have been enjoying success of late, but they’re still in a dogfight to hang onto a Stanley Cup playoff berth. And their next 10 games could be the difference in making or missing the post-season.
Once they finish up with the Islanders game, the Sabres will play the Los Angeles Kings, Canadiens (again) and Florida Panthers, the Tampa Bay Lightning, and the Pittsburgh Penguins. Again (and with due respect to the Penguins), that’s nine games out of 10 that the Sabres get an opponent who could beat them.
That means, between now and then – ‘then’ being three weeks from today,– the Sabres could find themselves either in a top-three position in the Atlantic Division, or they could be in the basement of the Eastern conference once again. The difference between being a playoff team and a non-playoff team is razor-thin, and that’s why every game counts.
The Sabres will need to produce about 14 standings points out of 20 points available to them in their next 10 games. Anything less than that, and there’s room for competing teams to leapfrog them in the standings.
The Sabres have to show right now that they’re a different group than the Sabres teams that wilted beneath the pressure that has built every year since Buffalo last was a playoff team.
But there's no question the Sabres have a major test in the 10 games ahead. And the way they respond to that challenge will largely dictate whether they can end their playoff drought, or see it increased to 15 years.
We’ve finally passed it: the halfway marker. 42 games are officially filed away, and just 40 more contests remain. So set up camp, pitch your tent, fill your water reserves, light a fire, roast a s’more, burn a marshmallow beyond recognition, try again, same result, cut your losses, and ingest the charcoal-esque blackness of a failed marshmallow roast between two graham crackers. Take your rest, because if you thought the first half of the season would be challenging, it would be best to learn to disconnect from your emotions, and simply allow the remaining season to wash over you like the tide.
We’ve witnessed the rebirth of the 2023-24 era Lauri Markkanen. We’ve celebrated the emergence of rising star Keyonte George as he knocks on the door of All-Star consideration. We’ve been brought to tears by the majestic flight of rookie Ace Bailey, and we’ve likewise been brought to tears by the incorporeal return of Taylor Hendricks. Brice Sensabaugh scored 43 points in a game — that was real.
We’ve mourned victories and applauded defeat. We’ve watched with bated breath as Utah dangles its first-round pick inches from the fangs of the rabid dog that is OKC. We’ve made new friends, and we’ve forged new rivalries.
The Dallas Mavericks’ fanbase has signed a declaration of war against the Utah Jazz (for… losing to them? Tanking better than the team with Cooper Flagg? I’m not entirely clear), which is something that Spurs fans should be able to empathise with, being Dallas’ storied in-state rival.
This season, San Antonio is everything that Utah is not. They boast certifiable stars in Victor Wembanyama and De’Aaron Fox. They have nailed their recent draft picks like Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper. Utah hopes to compete in the distant future; San Antonio promises to confront them in the Playoffs if that day ever arrives.
The result of this basketball game shouldn’t really be in question (the Spurs are home favorites by 16.5 points at the time of writing this), but the dichotomy between these two teams compels me toward introspection.
The Utah Jazz (14-28) visit the San Antonio Spurs (29-13) with near-perfectly inverse records. The visitors lose nearly as often as the hosts win, and vice versa. This is true despite the fact that these two are virtually identical in average age of their players, Utah (25.3 years old average), the eighth-youngest roster in the NBA, and San Antonio (26.3 years), just one year older (per NBAage.com, which is a phenomenal URL for exactly this type of data). The fundamental difference between these two teams is the quality of their depth chart, where the Spurs are so age-efficient with their roster that they possess a player whose mere existence threatens the dynamic of basketball at large.
Their most apparent advantage over the likes of Utah? Draft position. The Spurs have selected second, fourth, and first in the past three drafts, while the Jazz were left with scraps, picking fifth, tenth, and ninth in the same years.
And with a larger margin for error, the Spurs have hit the bullseye every. Single. Time. Is Utah cursed with poor lottery luck? Will the Jazz ever be rewarded for their misery with a top pick, or are they doomed to circle their goals in perpetual motion? This question will gradually be answered as the season reaches its twilight, but for the moment, Utah faces yet another challenge.
So here we sit at the midpoint of the 2025-26 journey. Staring into the face of a team miles ahead of the Jazz despite beginning in the same place just a few years ago. Set in the southern end of the Lone Star State, the Utah Jazz square off against the San Antonio Spurs.
How to watch Utah Jazz vs San Antonio Spurs:
Date: Monday, Jan 19, 2026 Time: 4:00 PM MT Location: Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, TX Channel: Jazz+, KJZZ Odds: SAS -16.5
Calvin Barrett is a writer, editor, and prolific Mario Kart racer located in Tokyo, Japan. He has covered the NBA and College Sports since 2024.
HOUSTON (AP) — Kingston Flemings had 20 points and eight assists, Chris Cenac Jr. added a career high-tying 18 points and No. 7 Houston extended its winning streak to 11 games with a 103-73 victory over Arizona State on Sunday night.
Cenac, who also had eight rebounds and five assists, had 12 points and led six Houston players with at least eight points in the first half as the Cougars (17-1, 5-0 Big 12) built a 56-29 lead at the break. Houston shot 55% and was 8 of 16 from 3-point distance in the first half.
Emanuel Sharp and Milos Uzan each had 16 points and Joseph Tugler finished with 12 points and seven rebounds for Houston, which shot 56% and was 12 for 25 from long distance. The Cougars, who posted their highest point total of the season, have won 15 straight games at home.
Houston forced 17 turnovers and converted them into 31 points, and held a 44-22 advantage in points in the paint.
Andrija Grbovic scored 14 points, Anthony Johnson added 12 and Bryce Ford and Noah Meeusen scored 10 apiece for Arizona State (10-8, 1-4). The Sun Devils shot 41% and were 9 of 25 on 3-pointers. Arizona State was 20 of 24 from the free throw line, but lost for the sixth time in seven games.
Houston jumped out to a 30-5 lead on a layup by Flemings with about 11½ minutes remaining in the first half. Cenac had 10 points, and Flemings had six points in the game-opening run. The Cougars shot 12 of 15 from the field to start the game.
Houston got off to a fast start for the second straight game. The Cougars opened up their 77-48 win over West Virginia on Wednesday with a 28-5 run.
Despite not getting off to the start that they wanted, the Detroit Red Wings finished strong on Sunday evening.
Alex DeBrincat's goal at 0:36 of overtime gave the Red Wings a 4-3 victory over the Ottawa Senators, who scored twice to take a 2-0 lead by the time the first period was barely five minutes in the books.
With the victory, the Red Wings are back in a first-place tie with the Tampa Bay Lightning, who beat the Dallas Stars earlier in the afternoon, for the top spot in the Atlantic Division at 30-16-4.
Ottawa's Drake Batherson struck first for the Senators at 4:26, banging home a rebound past goaltender John Gibson, who initially made two straight saves. Not even a minute later, Dylan Cozens doubled the lead while on the power-play.
However, the Red Wings would strike with a man-advantage of their own, as rookie Axel Sandin-Pellikka's shot beat former Detroit goaltender James Reimer through a screen.
Shortly before the midway point of the second period, Lucas Raymond sniped a shot past Reimer's glove, knotting the score with his 15th goal of the season.
Eventually, the Red Wings would grab their first lead of the evening while on the power-play thanks to a beautiful net-front goal from James van Riemsdyk.
But before the period came to a close, the Senators responded with the tying marker while Elmer Soderblom was in the penalty box for interference.
Neither team found the back of the net in the third period, setting up overtime in which they ultimately emerged victorious.
Gibson stopped 19 of the 22 shots fired his way, while Reimer, who was signed by the Senators to a one-year contract earlier this week, made 30 saves in his Ottawa debut.
The Red Wings will next hit the road to play their fourth and final game against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the regular season.
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